Hassan: Five arrested for selling newborn baby

Sakaleshpur/Hassan: Five persons were arrested following a complaint that a newborn child was illegally sold off in Byakaravalli village in Sakaleshpur, police said. The arrested include the child’s mother and an ASHA worker, they added.

The accused have been identified as the child’s mother Girija of Haragavalli, Sumitra of Hiriyur Koodige, Subramani of Hosalli, his son Srikanth, and Usha of Chikkamagaluru.

The arrests were made after a complaint was received that a day-old baby had been sold, police said.

Meanwhile, police said they are investigating the motive. The investigation is focusing on whether the baby was sold as the parents could not care for the child or for any other reason, they said.

According to police, Girija, and her husband Somashekhar, worked as labourers at the coffee estate of Subramani. The couple already have two children and Girija gave birth to a baby boy on November 13 at Hethur Government Hospital. The child was sold to Usha with help from Sumitra, an ASHA worker, they said.